Central buffer with automatic coupling for railway-cars.



L. MANZANO. CENTRAL BUFFER WITH AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 18, 1912.

1,068,256. Patented July 22, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CUqWASIH'NGTO n. c.

LUIS MANZANO, 0]? H'UELVA, SLPAIN.

CENTRAL BUFFER WITH AUTGMATIO COUPLING FOE, R.LILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1912.

Patented July 22, 1913.

Serial no. ceases.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that 1, Luis Minimise, a subject of the Spanish King, and resident of l'luel a tlpain have invented certain new and useful in provements in Central Butt tors with Automatic Couplings tor ltailway- Cars, (if which the following is a specilication. I

This invention relates to an axial or central butler provided with an automatic coupling for railway cars and more especially for light rail ay cars and mine cars, the ob ject of the invention being; to provide a but flier of the kind described which is very sinr pie and coun'nises neither springs nor other sensitive parts which can only resist with ditliculty the stresses resulting troni traetional etl'orts, shocl'cs and the like.

The coupling butler which forms the sub ject matter of this invention comprises only three parts 2". c. the butter proper which is hollowed out in an axial direction, a shackle or link and a locking latch these parts being arranged. in such a manner that the simple throwing together of the two central butters produces the pushing back of the lock bolt which again tells automatically back into i s engaging position thus locking the couplin its readily seen in the device forming the subject matter oil? this invention no handle or similar inei'nber has to be actuated either from the ear or tl'ron'i the outside of the track. It follows therefrom a considerable simplifying of construction, economy of time and absence oi? danger as well as the reduction to the admissible minimum of the cost of upkeep and ot the number of workmen.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a side elevation View with a section of parts of the coupling; Fig. 2 is the end. elevation View of one of the butters; Fig. 3 is the top plan view corresponding to Fig. 1; lii 4: shows a side elevation View with parts shown in section of a somewhat modified term of en'ibodiment.

The coupling link or shackle 1 has the form oi? a figure h or a similar shape.

The locking latch or bolt has a particular shape. lts front part is provided with a rounded inclined surface which is struck by the t3 shaped link 1 when the butters are thrown together. The body of the looking latch has been provided with a vertical slot 5 through which a bolt 5, provided on the corresponding butter is passed. when the locking bolt occupies its lowermost position, the locking bolt is suspended from this bolt which serves as a tuleruni for it.

'l he upper part of the lock bolt is shaped so as to term a handle 19 the object of which will be pointed out later on.

For the purpose of guiding or housing the locking latch the butter has been provided in its upper and lower parts respec tively with longitudinal openings 4t and 6' which pass through the corresponding parts Oil the butter. i

Let us assume now that both butters are separated iroin each other and that the but for which is positioned on the let't hand side in the drawing be provided with an 8 shaped link or shackle l. which is held in positioiiby the locking latch Let us suppose besides that both butters are thrown into contact with each other. The tree end of the link or shackle It then strikes the bottom surface oi the neighboring butli'e and slides ll lwlil'tl on this surface until it strikes against the locking latch 2 which is thus pushed back toward the inclined rear surface t of the lower opening; or seat 4 oil the butter. lJuring this motion the locking latch 2 slides upward along this surface at being guided tin-(nigh the inediui'n. oi its slot 5 by the cross bolt 5. The locking latch Q eventually arrives in the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, its lower part resting against the rear surface 6 oil the upper guide slot 6 of the butter.

The hollow of the butter extends sutliciently to the lQEll'Yv'ill'tl as at 3 (Fig. 1) to allow the trout part of the coi'lpling link to slide past the rear surfaces 6 of the upper slot 6 and this in such a manner that the locking latch :2 be allowed to tall under the intluence of its own weight into the engaged eye of the figure ti shaped link thus locking the coupling in position.

The locking latch 2 has been provided at its front part and more especially at the upper end of the inclined striking surface 2 with a shoulder 7 which when the coupling is engaged presses from below against the metal oi? the buffer at the front end of the upper guide slot 6 and serves to pre vent during the running of the train the locking latch 2 from erking upward or being pushed upward and from thus producing' the separation of the cars of the train.

The coupling described above allows the cars to be very easily separated from each other. It will be sufiicient to attain this result to grasp the handle 19 of the latch and to pull it upward. The suppleness of this coupling is very great not only in the direction of its height but also in the direction of its width which results from the simple inspection of the drawings. The narrowed central part of the figure 8 shaped link or shackle 1 ascertains in connection with the enlarged shape of the buffer mouth a very great freedom of motion in the curves while the enlargement of the buffer mouth exists also in the vertical direction and allows the regular coupling of cars the buffers of which are not for one reason or another at the same height or level.

One 8 of the ends of the bolt 5 is hook shaped and serves to carry a spare link or shackle.

The arrangement shown by Fig. & is employed in all cases where it is desirable that the coupling link or shackle does not form an independentpart. To this end the buffer has been provided at its lower part with two ears 9 through which passes bolt 1Q and between which the eye of an eye bolt 11 is adapted to oscillate on the bolt 10 and this in the longitudinal direction of the buffer. The central part of the figure 8 shaped coupling link or shackle 1 is provided with a vertical hole 12 in which a ball headed bolt 13 is held so as to allow its motions in all directions. The outer end of the parts 11 and 13 is screw threaded and carries a nut locked in position by means of a cotter pin these nuts holding two washers 1et and let in position which in turn hold a chain link 15 having the usual shape the arrangement being such that this chain link is holding the parts 11 and 13 together while allowing the pivoting motion of the latter. Now, when the figure 8 shaped coupling link or shackle 1 is not in use it hangs freely downward as shown on the right hand side of Fig. 4. hen it is desired to couple two cars, one grasps the figure 8 shaped link at the end 16 and rotates it in such a manner that its end 17 can be slid in the mouth of the corresponding bufier. During this operation the locking latch 2 like in the instance described above will hold the link and this in such a manner that it will be ready for insertion into the second buffer. Under each edge of the buffer a depression 18 has been provided which in spite of the presence of the bolt 13 allows the buffers to come together without being hindered. Otherwise the arrangement, function and advantages are the same as in the first form of embodiment.

Having now fully described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A car coupling comprising a coupling head having a centrally disposed depression, the lower wall of which inclines downwardly toward the front of the head, said head having a vertical slot which intersects the depression, the rear wall of the vertical slot adjacent the downwardly inclined wall inclining up from the bottom and toward the rear, a latch operating in the vertical opening and formed with a slot, the lower edge of the latch being beveled, the beveled surface being normally spaced from the rear in clined wall of the vertical slot, to permit of a free movement of the latch before contacting with said rear inclined portion, the lower front edge of the latch being inclined, a pin engaging the slot in the latch to support the latter, and a link formed with a latch engaging opening, the end of the link contacting with the lower inclined front edge of the latch and forcing the lower beveled edge against the inclined rear wall of the vertical slot and thereby elevating said latch for its engagement with the opening in the link.

2. A car coupling comprising a head formed with a link receiving opening and a vertical latch receiving seat the rear wall of the latter being inclined, a latch mounted on the head, means for mounting the latch to permit it to swing in an upward and rearward direction, the front edge of the latch being inclined and its bottom being beveled, the beveled portion being normally spaced from the inclined wall of the vertical seat to permit of a slight free movement of the latch before the latter contacts with the rear wall when a link is thrust against the front inclined portion, whereby to elevate said latch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

' LUIS MANZANO. Witnesses:

I. V. CING, A. Ln BOWEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

